Plug n Play Aux-in mod for 2005 6cd radios

Got my confirmation - I'll let you know how it goes.

If I want longer ribbon cable, where can I buy it and what kind do I look for?

If I want longer ribbon cable, where can I buy it and what kind do I look for?

You can get them off of digikey.com

 

Part numbers, lengths & prices/ea:

 

HF14U-02-ND : 2" : $3.15

HF14U-03-ND : 3" : $3.38

HF14U-04-ND : 4" : $3.60

HF14U-05-ND : 5" : $3.83

HF14U-06-ND : 6" : $4.05

HF14U-08-ND : 8" : $4.50

HF14U-10-ND : 10" : $4.95

HF14U-12-ND : 12" : $5.40

HF14U-18-ND : 18" : $6.75

Anyone get their toys yet? I'm dying to see the first install. Priority is supposed to be 2-day to most places...we'll see I guess.

 

I checked my mail over lunch & did not receive the parts unfortunately, so it will be another day's delay. I would be very suprised if they didn't show tomorrow though. Friday ship date is still what I'm shooting for on the next run. After that I should have stock on hand.

 

I'm still debating on whether to put money into the whole "next generation" thing. It seems there's more interest in a simplified universal version that allows no-cd spin and probably auto-sensing on the audio than one that allows control & display for only an ipod. The more universal idea I like since it would work better w/GPS guys that just want "Turn Left" and then back to their music and it would work well for XM & 'other' mp3 players too...oh yea, and the carputer guys obviously Anyway, I'm guessing I'd have to sell such a device for a lot more, like $250 ea. to pay for the vastly more complicated parts. If that sounds insane (it does to me...but I'm cheap) I'll probably just forget about it, but if sounds reasonable, and there's interest, I'll buy a bench radio and start working on it. Thoughts?

well, the next gen one sounds like what I would want if doable... running my GPS via my PocketPC through my car stereo while listening to FM or a CD would spectacular and exactly what I need!

 

So do I spend the $35 now or put it towards the next gen solution?? Hmmm.

So do I spend the $35 now or put it towards the next gen solution?? Hmmm.

I should have added that to my post. I said it awhile ago, and I still stand by it: If I do create a "next generation aux-in", and I do want to, but that is still a critical "if" because of the time & money required. Anyway if I do, I would discount it the full price of what I consider to be my temporary solution. So, essentially, if you're on board w/spending $250 for a fully featured board (assuming that's the end price, and I think it is probably close), the $35 version is the equivalent of a down payment & then it would only cost an additional $215 (for example) once I figured it out.

 

I'm certain this "next gen" idea can become a reality, with enough time anyway...it's just a question of, is there enough interest at the higher price to justify working on it? ...or is 90% of the interest taken care of with an inexpensive, simple, silent (or non-) cd approach?

Got the board today. Looks great, but I wont be able to install till this weekend.

Well I'm glad it got there anyway. Most of them should arrive today & I'm sure someone will not be able to wait & take the plunge

Anyone in the tri-state area want to do a install day, lunch on me?

I don't think I will pay $215 for it.

 

The next step I'm looking for is only an actual Aux selection, meaning I can switch to aux-in even if I don't have any CDs anywhere within 100m of my car, and will not mix the 2 sound sources if I decide to play a CD.

I don't think I will pay $215 for it.

 

The next step I'm looking for is only an actual Aux selection, meaning I can switch to aux-in even if I don't have any CDs anywhere within 100m of my car, and will not mix the 2 sound sources if I decide to play a CD.

...um...that's exactly what the "next generation" would be for...a CD-less aux in that auto-selects the aux source when there's sound on it. It would interrupt both CD & radio and then return to previous source when the sound stopped. I could probably even have a jumper setting on it so that you could set the delay low or high (you'd want it high for music for example, but low/quick for GPS/nav.)

Unfortunately nothing yet, then again mine's going through a corporate mail system as well.

 

What are you thinking of for Rev 2? Autosense/mix/off switchable on both CD/Radio? Ipod controls? Serial/Ipod text display?

Nate & everyone,

 

I just got my unit today - it is very professional looking! Thanks for the good work, and I look forwards to the install.

 

I only have one crassly capitalistic suggestion Nate - up the price. I paid $40 for the Blitzsafe on my R32, and would have gladly paid as much or more for this. Fantastic work!!

 

Your instructions are superb and well written. I will post a report on the sound quality once it gets installed.

 

Albert

Unfortunately nothing yet, then again mine's going through a corporate mail system as well.

 

What are you thinking of for Rev 2? Autosense/mix/off switchable on both CD/Radio? Ipod controls? Serial/Ipod text display?

Well, at first I was thinking all of the above, but now I'm thinking maybe that's too much & not universally useful enough (since the total demand is not v. big to begin with).

 

Sooo, I was thinking of something that can autosense audio and would switch off radio or CD (I know this is possible because inserting a CD will take over the radio, so it can be done from the CD I/O even when on FM/AM). I could even display something like "Aux-in" on the face (possibly) while it's in use, but I'd probably ditch the idea of displaying track or serial text info. The interface would add too much complexity for something that isn't universally useful.

 

If I got this whole thing to work, I might consider making small runs of specialized boards at even higher cost for Ipod & carputer users, but that's not where I would start.

 

I'm beginning to doubt there's even enough interest for a "universal" board...

 

(new) doteleven - I may take your advice on upping the price a little for the "simple" board...it's a bit more work than I expected and if the damand increases, I'm going to loose all my weekends! j/k Good reviews is a big reward for me too though, even if it's not as easily measured in dollars...glad I can help out.

Got mine today, looks real good. Nice job with the instructions too! I will hopefully get to tangle with it over the weekend, depending on what the weather does.

 

As for the universal board, it may be possible. All the inputs (CD, FM, AM) run to the same place, and it's just the absence of two of them that allows the third to play uninterupted. If you could trick the radio/CD (or radio/FM or radio/AM) to both think the other is hunky-dory, then it would work. The thing is, that info gets passed along a data bus, so it will take a bit of deciphering to figure out.

 

Craig

got mine today.......instructions are very clear and detailed.......board is well constructed......two thumbs up for jazzy

 

mlrtime...i'm up for an install day....

got mine today, too. i'd be up for an install day.

Wife is at class and she has the mail key. It's getting dark so I guess I won't be installing tonight.

Got mine, going to try to get it installed before my long trip this weekend..

Got mine today, installed it tonight, works great! More details/pics to follow. Highly recommend this mod! The instructions were great, and I thought the price was very reasonable.

I got mine yesterday, but it will be a while before I can install it. I think the 2nd Gen would go over very well, and I would definitely get one!

 

Ted

Got the board yesterday and installed it last night. The instructions were so good I could have done it with my eyes closed!! Excellent work. And kudos for including a silent CD.

I would probably be interested in the second gen aux in as well.

Well I'm glad everyone's happy with their board so far, and that the few people that have installed them went well. My goal of course was to have everything go as smoothly as possible with good instructions, but you just never know how it will turn out for sure until a few people have tried it. Hopefully everyone else's install goes smoothly too.

 

Any comparisons for others on sound quality? Anyone ditching an FM mod to put this in?

Sound quality is excellent - sounds as good/loud as the CD player. I haven't tried an FM modulator, but have used one in my home, and it sounded awful. Also as an FYI - I have an 06, and this worked fine for me.